I don't know how to feel about the Balotelli deal. El Shaarawy and Niang are solid, and Balotelli's a bit of a punk, plus he didn't come cheaply.

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I think they could of spent better in other areas, particularly centre back, maybe someone who could play out wide, apart from Robinho there isn't really anyone. They don't really play that style, but it would be a good option to have i'd of thought, especially when the game needs stretching. Niang, El Shaarawy and Boateng from deeper could do some real damage when things aren't so narrow.

I think they could of spent better in other areas, particularly centre back, maybe someone who could play out wide, apart from Robinho there isn't really anyone. They don't really play that style, but it would be a good option to have i'd of thought, especially when the game needs stretching. Niang, El Shaarawy and Boateng from deeper could do some real damage when things aren't so narrow.

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We needed a solid creative midfielder (there are enough soldiers, utility midfielders, and Montolivo, but he's not quite a trequartista), the kaka deal fell through, since he was "too expensive" yet all that money goes for Balotelli. Management doesn't know what to do (Pazzini-Cassano deal, and on top of that we still gave Inter 7 million on top of that ). I swear, the old men (B&G) should just leave, and let Barbara or someone else run things.

Balotelli has tons of potential though, if he really loves the team as much as he's led to believe, he could be a great signing. On top of that, the El Shaarawy and Balotelli partnership will only blossom even more for the national team. Yet, I like Niang a lot, no clue what's going to happen to him.

We needed a solid creative midfielder (there are enough soldiers, utility midfielders, and Montolivo, but he's not quite a trequartista), the kaka deal fell through, since he was "too expensive" yet all that money goes for Balotelli. Management doesn't know what to do (Pazzini-Cassano deal, and on top of that we still gave Inter 7 million on top of that ). I swear, the old men (B&G) should just leave, and let Barbara or someone else run things.

Balotelli has tons of potential though, if he really loves the team as much as he's led to believe, he could be a great signing. On top of that, the El Shaarawy and Balotelli partnership will only blossom even more for the national team. Yet, I like Niang a lot, no clue what's going to happen to him.

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Yeah, I have noticed that a creative midfielder is missing. De Jong and Nocerino are good to have to fight and win the ball, and Montolivo is a nice player to have.. a replacement for Pirlo is pretty important though. What do you think about the centre back position? It seems no real effort has been spent on replacing Silva.

Tell me about it with the management. As a Chelsea fan, i'm used to seeing the owner going after the wrong players (Torres for instance). For years our midfield has been going backwards, we just don't replace players when they move on, or ideally before. At the moment all we have is Ramires and Lampard (who is going in the summer). It was two years ago the club decided someone like Modric would be good for the team, it didn't happen, and we're still waiting for someone like that. In the time since then we have lost Essien and Meireles so the situation has got worse, again, the club haven't replaced.

As for the Balotelli and El Shaarawy combination, I think it could work. In the Euro's Balotelli and Giovinco were fantastic together. If they can start up a partnership like that then it will be a great signing.

Reading went for it, they were behind so it made sense. Rafa made his usual like-for-like, pointless substitutions (Benayoun for Mata, pfft).

His record is shocking, it certainly puts Di Matteo's start to the season into perspective. When he came in, we were still playing fairly well and the Oscar, Mata, Hazard system was resulting in some really attractive stuff. People said Benitez would want less of that, but be alot better on the defensive end. Well, we're just as bad at the back, except he's lost all the creative flair and attractive football we had under Di Matteo. He's basically just come in and messed up the good points, whilst doing nothing to fix the bad.

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Spot on diagnosis there of what DiMatteo and Benitez have provided (or not as the case may be in the case of Benitez. :wink: )

Looks like something could be happening.. again.

Before yesterdays shocker, the odds on Poyet taking over had already come down from 25-1, to 3-1.

Abramovich never really backed the last Chelsea legend who was in charge, can't see him changing this time round, if it's true!

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Again, I completely agree ^. I can almost feel sorry for Chelsea fans. Roman Abramovic definitely seems to suffer from a kind of manager-related attention deficit hyperactivity disorder! :shock:

And talking of prospective managers for CFC... Q. What about the man many of us fear will turn up at Chelsea, Jose Mourinho, of course? Isn't there a very good chance he'll have a second crack at you lot? I was thinking the second Real's involvement in the Champion's League is finito, "the special one" would be heading back to W. London.

As a Spurs fan, I hope I'm wrong... long live, Roman Abramovic!... bring on Poyet!... bring on the next fall guy!... :grin:

Again, I completely agree ^. I can almost feel sorry for Chelsea fans. Roman Abramovic definitely seems to suffer from a kind of manager-related attention deficit hyperactivity disorder! :shock:

And talking of prospective managers for CFC... Q. What about the man many of us fear will turn up at Chelsea, Jose Mourinho, of course? Isn't there a very good chance he'll have a second crack at you lot? I was thinking the second Real's involvement in the Champion's League is finito, "the special one" would be heading back to W. London.

As a Spurs fan, I hope I'm wrong... long live, Roman Abramovic!... bring on Poyet!... bring on the next fall guy!... :grin:

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I can understand why people have no sympathy for Chelsea fans, but the way things have gone with the way the club is being run these days, it's getting hard not to it seems!

I can't see much point in bringing in Poyet now, you never know who will be available in the summer and you can't expect him to leave his job for a few months, only to be out of a job in the summer.

As for Mourinho, well the relationship with Abramovich is better than it's ever been. I wanted Mourinho all along, even when it looked like being Guardiola. All the rumours at the moment seem to be around Moyes or Laudrup, so who knows. I think Mourinho wants the Man Utd job if i'm honest, another stint at Chelsea could hurt his chances there. The question i'd have to ask is if the board at Man Utd would ever go for him, his personality, lack of time spent at clubs and slightly negative at times style all count against him.

What do you think about the centre back position? It seems no real effort has been spent on replacing Silva.

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Well, Galliani managed to get big boy Acerbi, but he's been a disappointing signing so far. Hasn't impressed at all. Zapata has been good, a bit more consistent than Mexes, who has numerous times single handedly allowed goals to happen. We just got Zaccardo, who despite being a right back can play at CB. CB spot is a bit of a mess, there's no replacing the best (Silva). At LB and RB we are amazing, with Constant and Di Sciglio. If you watch us play though, the CBs frequently mess up on set pieces. Basically every time an opponent takes a free kick or a corner I an expecting them to score aerially. I mean, that's just not Milan football, the CBs were always rock solid.

I didn't know that about Laudrup/CFC... I've been very impressed with him this year. Mind you, would he fancy it?

All,

Will be interesting to see the last day transfers. Haven't checked recently but I believe a few clubs are in for Christopher Samba (would be great acquisition for Wenger.) Beckham to PSG? And, hopefully, someone top tier to Spurs (note to H. Redknapp: Ryan Nelson is not 'top tier'.)

ting to see the last day transfers. Haven't checked recently but I believe a few clubs are in for Christopher Samba (would be great acquisition for Wenger.) Beckham to PSG? And, hopefully, someone top tier to Spurs (note to H. Redknapp: Ryan Nelson is not 'top tier'.)

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Ryan Nelson single-handedly tied Italy at the World Cup (hard to think South Africa was 3 years ago! Seemed like yesterday!). He also put up a hell of a fight against City the other day.

The question i'd have to ask is if the board at Man Utd would ever go for him, his personality, lack of time spent at clubs and slightly negative at times style all count against him.

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If he set up his team the way he did at Chelsea, Utd fans wouldn't put up with it, too boring even though it was HIGHLY effective.

His Real teams seem more expansive and I love to watch them in the CL and Utd would probably go for that. Not sure how the Jose soap opera would play in Manchester though. Ballotelli didn't last very long up there.

Woah, Arsenal have signed Nacho Monreal? That's a surprise, but the guy can play. Better left back than Andre Santos, who should be playing on the wing, not in defense.

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Yeah. For once it's not a panic buy, sniffing around the scraps left by the other teams on deadline day. It's great to actually bring in quality competition for the starting spot, but I hope this drives Kieran Gibbs on, rather than arresting his development.

Spot on about Santos. I think another club will end up picking him up for a knock-down price and end up with a pretty decent left winger.

Yeah. For once it's not a panic buy, sniffing around the scraps left by the other teams on deadline day. It's great to actually bring in quality competition for the starting spot, but I hope this drives Kieran Gibbs on, rather than arresting his development.

Spot on about Santos. I think another club will end up picking him up for a knock-down price and end up with a pretty decent left winger.

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True stories, Santos is quite good on the ball but his defense is SO bad.

I don't really rate Gibbs(yet) but he's still so young. He seems to be caught exposed too many times still on that side. We never should have let Ca$hley go

Nacho should solidify things back there. Wish we'd get a keeper Sir Chesney is scary at times and has no physical presence directing traffic back there.

Well, Galliani managed to get big boy Acerbi, but he's been a disappointing signing so far. Hasn't impressed at all. Zapata has been good, a bit more consistent than Mexes, who has numerous times single handedly allowed goals to happen. We just got Zaccardo, who despite being a right back can play at CB. CB spot is a bit of a mess, there's no replacing the best (Silva). At LB and RB we are amazing, with Constant and Di Sciglio. If you watch us play though, the CBs frequently mess up on set pieces. Basically every time an opponent takes a free kick or a corner I an expecting them to score aerially. I mean, that's just not Milan football, the CBs were always rock solid.

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Watching Milan, the centre backs certainly are the main problem. I think the goalkeeping position is something they need to address too, they seem to make alot of silly mistakes and that can't be good for the confidence of the centre backs. If they get a solid keeper and proper replacements for Silva and Pirlo, things should dramatically improve. I think there are certainly players out there that Milan can go after. A good summer in the transfer market is all it would take i'd think.

I think all of their buys have been good, they had a poor summer in the transfer market and payed for it, but this one has been very good.

As for the result, predictable is probably the word!

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It seems Pardew was satisfied with his squad after their terrific run last season and chose not to make any changes. Kind of backfired depth wise since they were hit with so many injuries. Ben Arfa is huge for them and he has been away for much of the season. Cabaye being back is great and with Sissoko beeffing up the mid field attack, they should have a handful of options when Ben Arfa is fit. Tiote will also let the attacking midfielders be more creative. With the squad they have, especially when healthy, they should be in the upper half.

It seems Pardew was satisfied with his squad after their terrific run last season and chose not to make any changes. Kind of backfired depth wise since they were hit with so many injuries. Ben Arfa is huge for them and he has been away for much of the season. Cabaye being back is great and with Sissoko beeffing up the mid field attack, they should have a handful of options when Ben Arfa is fit. Tiote will also let the attacking midfielders be more creative. With the squad they have, especially when healthy, they should be in the upper half.

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I'm sure he was delighted with his squad from last year the problem is that if you don't spend, there are alot of teams around you who are. Just standing still in the market usually means the next season is a struggle.

Even Man Utd and Ferguson acknowledge they have to improve their squad every summer, even after winning the title.

Balotelli scores 2 on his debut. Despite what the media say he wasn't ever given a run in the Man City starting 11.

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He'll do well..needed another year or so to really get up to speed with English football though he wanted too much time on the ball a lot of the time and also ironically Mancini's tactics don't suit a player with his skillset, didn't help that he had a poor attitude when things weren't going well though.

Tevez is probably next to leave and he fits the tactics perfectly but always is subbed or left out no matter his form, creates chances every game for himself and teammates and links up well with Silva while Aguero has been a lot more selfish taking too many dribbles.

Hoping for a miracle but honestly haven't seen more than 2-3 games all season where the team have really played well. Hopefully Yaya plays better when he comes back and improves the play.

He'll do well..needed another year or so to really get up to speed with English football though he wanted too much time on the ball a lot of the time and also ironically Mancini's tactics don't suit a player with his skillset, didn't help that he had a poor attitude when things weren't going well though.

Tevez is probably next to leave and he fits the tactics perfectly but always is subbed or left out no matter his form, creates chances every game for himself and teammates and links up well with Silva while Aguero has been a lot more selfish taking too many dribbles.

Hoping for a miracle but honestly haven't seen more than 2-3 games all season where the team have really played well. Hopefully Yaya plays better when he comes back and improves the play.

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I think it's been the worst season for as long as I can remember. The supposedly 3 best teams, Man Utd, City and Chelsea have all been poor. Man Utd are running away with the league, but they have been making mistakes and playing in second gear for most of the year it seems.

Newcastle have gone backwards, Spurs and Arsenal are hit and miss. Swansea and Liverpool have done well, but apart from that it's been tough to really get into this year.

Ancient Chinese proverb: "Bloody hell. You know a club is deep in the doo-doo when Alex McCleish walks out on you." :twisted:

Seriously, such a shame that a club with such a fantastic tradition, European glory, Cloughie, etc, should have such dodgy shoddy people running it and creating untold mayhem... four managers is it in a ridiculously short space of time? Not that Forest's terminal decline is a recent malaise of course.

I think it's been the worst season for as long as I can remember. The supposedly 3 best teams, Man Utd, City and Chelsea have all been poor. Man Utd are running away with the league, but they have been making mistakes and playing in second gear for most of the year it seems.

Newcastle have gone backwards, Spurs and Arsenal are hit and miss. Swansea and Liverpool have done well, but apart from that it's been tough to really get into this year.

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The standard is certainly poor. Whether poorer than last season I am not sure. For all that I was very pleased to see them succeed City must have been the most limited winners of the Premiership for a long time. Some very talented players but the overall picture is at times appallingly one dimensional.

The standard is certainly poor. Whether poorer than last season I am not sure. For all that I was very pleased to see them succeed City must have been the most limited winners of the Premiership for a long time. Some very talented players but the overall picture is at times appallingly one dimensional.

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I think you sum it up well, very talented players, but at times it can look very one dimensional. You expect that from teams in the bottom half really, you can't have 20 top teams. The worrying thing is that the top teams don't really appear any different, save for the extra quality who win games.

Man Utd for instance, they look sloppy and keep letting in silly goals, it's the likes of van Persie who have saved them countless times. Against Fulham at the weekend, they gave up 4 or 5 great chances. Chelsea have just been awful the last 3 months, I put it down to sticking blindly with Torres, and having a serious lack of not only numbers in midfield, but players who have the quality and know-how to play the modern way. The top teams all have great midfields, compare that with Mikel and Ramires (which seems to be the prefered duo), to me it's more like a midfield from 2003, not 2013.

That wasn't too bad by England. I thought the Arsenal pair looked good.

Also thought you could see a bit of why Naymar is being so touted. Give him a few years and maybe he'll be right up there with the creme de la creme (like Messi, Ronaldo, etc.)

Wonder if he will indeed end up at Barca?

Talking of whom...

Knowing full well the enormous cultural identification and zealous pride taken in their team by the Catalans, what's going on with Gerard Pique's name choice for his new baby... Milan... ??!!... :shock:

That wasn't too bad by England. I thought the Arsenal pair looked good.

Also thought you could see a bit of why Naymar is being so touted. Give him a few years and maybe he'll be right up there with the creme de la creme (like Messi, Ronaldo, etc.)

Wonder if he will indeed end up at Barca?

Talking of whom...

Knowing full well the enormous cultural identification and zealous pride taken in their team by the Catalans, what's going on with Gerard Pique's name choice for his new baby... Milan... ??!!... :shock:

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England looked pretty good I thought. I had to laugh seeing Gerrard starting, only for him to be thoroughly outplayed by Lampard in his 45 minutes, yet again. You have to feel sorry for him really.

As for Brazil, with the high regard they hold the number 10 shirt in, it was strange to see the washed up Ronaldinho wearing it. Oscar has worn it for the last year and he's clearly the future of the position. It seemed strange to stick him out wide and take the shirt away from him.

England looked pretty good I thought. I had to laugh seeing Gerrard starting, only for him to be thoroughly outplayed by Lampard in his 45 minutes, yet again. You have to feel sorry for him really.

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He was nowhere near to being 'thoroughly outplayed'. He was excellent in the first half.

If anything, Gerrard was better overall I thought. Lampard was missing in the final 20 minutes and kept giving the ball away for the first 5 minutes in the 2nd half. Sure he had a good finish for his goal, but I find your analysis bizarre.

Knowing full well the enormous cultural identification and zealous pride taken in their team by the Catalans, what's going on with Gerard Pique's name choice for his new baby... Milan... ??!!... :shock:

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maybe he and his Mrs were on holiday there 9 or so months ago?
Could of been worse, could of been called Moss side or simiar!

He was nowhere near to being 'thoroughly outplayed'. He was excellent in the first half.

If anything, Gerrard was better overall I thought. Lampard was missing in the final 20 minutes and kept giving the ball away for the first 5 minutes in the 2nd half. Sure he had a good finish for his goal, but I find your analysis bizarre.

Thoroughly outplayed? :lol:

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When you play the midfield that England did, with Gerrard, Wilshere and Cleverley in the first half, there is usually one of the three who doesn't quite play as well as the other two. In the first half that was Cleverley, the second it was Gerrard. The reason the reports and player ratings give for this was that Lampard disrupted it.

That's the way it's always been, if Gerrard plays well and Lampard doesn't, it's because Stevie G is the superior player. If Lampard plays well and Gerrard doesn't? It's Lampards fault! England are pretty inconsistent, but the only thing you can truly rely on coming out of an England game is that will be part of the post match analysis.

I don't think Gerrard has been all that last couple seasons but he's been brilliant this year from what I've seen, making Liverpool tick whereas he slowed them down a bit previously, maybe Rodgers has added a few years to his career at the top level.

Lampard has also been great though, wouldn't go amiss at any big club that can fit him in. Would be a big loss for the league if he goes to MLS.

I don't think Gerrard has been all that last couple seasons but he's been brilliant this year from what I've seen, making Liverpool tick whereas he slowed them down a bit previously, maybe Rodgers has added a few years to his career at the top level.

Lampard has also been great though, wouldn't go amiss at any big club that can fit him in. Would be a big loss for the league if he goes to MLS.

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I don't think he will leave for MLS, seeing as the rumor now is that Chelsea want to give him a 3 year deal that will see him see out his playing career with the club.

And yeah Gerrard has been outstanding this season, he really fits in well with the tactical scheme that Rogers employs, and it seems his drive and passion on the pitch has really rubbed off on a few of the younger squad members.

REports today indicating CFC still aren't going to open talks on a contract with him.In your opinions would this be an example of an owner making up his mind about a player and not wanting to back down.He could shouw up at MU next season and would easilly have 2 or 3 years there to cause damage to Chelseas' title hopes.

REports today indicating CFC still aren't going to open talks on a contract with him.In your opinions would this be an example of an owner making up his mind about a player and not wanting to back down.He could shouw up at MU next season and would easilly have 2 or 3 years there to cause damage to Chelseas' title hopes.

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It's interesting, Abramovich is probably 90% sure of who the manager will be next year. If it's someone like Laudrup, Martinez, Moyes, Simeone, Klopp etc.. Then there is no way he will be offered an extension. If it's Mourinho then I believe he would make keeping Lampard part of the condition for him coming back.

It seems silly not to keep him, he's playing just as well as he ever has, although it's funny he's only really getting huge credit for it now. He's said he's happy to take a huge wage cut, where else could you find a player who brings as much as he does, for around £50,000 a week? You simply can't. The only legitimate reason for moving him on would be to give a new manager a clean slate to do their own thing with the club. It would be sad to see him leave, but as a fan, I can understand the need for a fresh start. The thing that would worry me is the total lack of desire to spend money in midfield, we've seen Essien, Meireles, Makelele, Deco and Ballack leave over the last number of years, the only player who came in since is Ramires. It wouldn't surprise me to see us get rid of Lampard and be playing next season with Ramires, Mikel and Romeu.

The only legitimate reason for moving him on would be to give a new manager a clean slate to do their own thing with the club. It would be sad to see him leave, but as a fan, I can understand the need for a fresh start.

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Excellent point, for evidence just look at what AVB is doing at Spurs without all the politics.

Hell, I'd love to see Lampard in red and white as he's got the winning mindset but I think he'd slow down play too much. We're already having to fight against Diaby doing that.

Excellent point, for evidence just look at what AVB is doing at Spurs without all the politics.

Hell, I'd love to see Lampard in red and white as he's got the winning mindset but I think he'd slow down play too much. We're already having to fight against Diaby doing that.

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I don't think he means to cause any disruption to new managers, it's just that he's such a huge part of the club and if i'm honest, I see him more as "Mr Chelsea" than Terry, that's always going to make it difficult having him around. He's happy not playing every game, he's even happy being payed average Premier League wages, it's just his aura I suppose.

As for slowing the game down, I don't think he really does that, but alot of people have said that he does. To me he seems to be the one who speeds it up for us, he's always the one looking to play the incisive passes, he's set Ba up a few times already (including the ball through where he got his nose broke I think ). Whenever he gets the ball he's always looking to get rid of it quickly, maybe it seems like he slows things down as he's usually playing with Ramires who isn't the most technical of players, if he had someone next to him who he could play the modern style of little triangle passes with (which Arsenal do), i'm sure he would and could.

I think he would be great for Arsenal or Man Utd, for himself I couldn't hold it against him if he decided to go that route, as opposed to the MLS.

I don't think he means to cause any disruption to new managers, it's just that he's such a huge part of the club and if i'm honest, I see him more as "Mr Chelsea" than Terry, that's always going to make it difficult having him around. He's happy not playing every game, he's even happy being payed average Premier League wages, it's just his aura I suppose.

As for slowing the game down, I don't think he really does that, but alot of people have said that he does. To me he seems to be the one who speeds it up for us, he's always the one looking to play the incisive passes, he's set Ba up a few times already (including the ball through where he got his nose broke I think ). Whenever he gets the ball he's always looking to get rid of it quickly, maybe it seems like he slows things down as he's usually playing with Ramires who isn't the most technical of players, if he had someone next to him who he could play the modern style of little triangle passes with (which Arsenal do), i'm sure he would and could.

I think he would be great for Arsenal or Man Utd, for himself I couldn't hold it against him if he decided to go that route, as opposed to the MLS.

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I want Lampard to come to the MLS. He'd be the best player in the league atuomatically. He can get a lot more of the ball and will easily be able to dictate play with MLS being slightly slower than what you've got across the pond.

I want Lampard to come to the MLS. He'd be the best player in the league atuomatically. He can get a lot more of the ball and will easily be able to dictate play with MLS being slightly slower than what you've got across the pond.

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He would be great in America, no doubt about that. I think he still has plenty left in him though, it could be a good thing if he goes on to another club in a top league and performs there too. Personally I hold players who do it in different leagues very highly. Ronaldo for instance, his record at Man Utd and then Real Madrid is special. If he goes to Serie A and does well, it would further enhance his reputation as one of the greatest players of his generation. He was voted the best player in the Premier League of the last decade, to do it in another league as well would be a challenge i'm sure he'd relish.

He would be great in America, no doubt about that. I think he still has plenty left in him though, it could be a good thing if he goes on to another club in a top league and performs there too. Personally I hold players who do it in different leagues very highly. Ronaldo for instance, his record at Man Utd and then Real Madrid is special. If he goes to Serie A and does well, it would further enhance his reputation as one of the greatest players of his generation. He was voted the best player in the Premier League of the last decade, to do it in another league as well would be a challenge i'm sure he'd relish.

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Yeah I think he should go take a shot in Italy with Inter. They're rebuilding and in a way still suffering the post-Mourinho fallout. Frankie would do well to help Inter rebuild. And he would destroy Serie A, with the way football is played in Italy, he can play like a Pirlo but move forward a bit more.

Yeah I think he should go take a shot in Italy with Inter. They're rebuilding and in a way still suffering the post-Mourinho fallout. Frankie would do well to help Inter rebuild. And he would destroy Serie A, with the way football is played in Italy, he can play like a Pirlo but move forward a bit more.

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There certainly seems to be alot of interest from Italy, i've heard Fiorentina, Lazio and AC Milan so far. Inter would be a good option, although he's not from Argentina, so maybe not

I see they managed to get Kovacic in January, they certainly won't be missing Sneijder when he finds his feet.